Bag adjusting assembly for garment finishing machines



' N. C. JACKSON Filed Aug. 5, 1957 BAG ADJUSTING ASSEMBLY FOR GARMENT FINISHING MACHINES March 8, 1960 INVENTOR.

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BAG ADJUSTING ASSEMBLY FOR GARMENT FINISHING .MACHINES Nolan C. Jackson, Wichita, Kans., assignor to Wichita Precision Tool Company, Inc., Wichita, Kane, a corporation of Kansas ApplicationAugust 5, 1957, SerialNo. 676,295 8 Claims. (Cl.-223-67) 'to improve upon the bag adjusting assembly for garment finishing machines of the kind set forth in the aforementioned disclosures.

More particularly, it is a primary aim of the instant invention to provide an eflicient control for the adjusting assembly of the take-up means provided on the bag for regulating the distention thereof under influence of steam or air directed thereinto while a garment is draped over the bag.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide in a garment finishing machine of the kind that is equipped with an inflatable bag, yieldable means for taking up the slack in the bag at one or more areas or zones. l i

It is a further important object of the instant invention to incorporate novel releasable means operable in conjunction with yieldable means for preventing distention of the bag against the action of the yieldable means during the garment'finishing operation."

Another important object of the present invention is to provide in a garmentfinishing machine having take-up means such as'a drawstring in connection with an inflatable bag, a spring-loaded manual control that normally imparts a yieldable bias on the control such as yet permit distention thereof under force of the steamor air'against the actionof the spring that forms a part of the manual control.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide in the combination just above set forth, a releasable lock for holding the control in place after the bag has beendistended, whereby further expansion at the zones of the take-up means is prevented during the garment finishing operationi 1 There is illustrated a single embodiment of the-inventhe aforementioned features in the tion incorporating Fig. 1 is afragrnentary, side elevational view partially schematic, showing a garment finishing machine having a bag-adjusting assembly as a part thereof and made pursuant to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view partially schematic and par tially in section showing the bag-adjusting assembly per se.

7 Fig. 3 is a detailed, cross-sectional view taken on line III--III of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a detailed, cross-sectional view taken on line IV- -IV of Fig. 2.

The invention illustrated in the drawing has been adapted for use in connectionwith a garment finishing machine of the kind shown in Fig. 1 and designated broadly by the numeral 10. It includes an inflatable bag 12 of permeable material over which a garment (not shown) is drapedduring finishing operations.

Patented Mar. 8, 1960 During the garment finishing operation, steam and hot air are directed into the bag 12 inproper sequence. For example, there is shown in Fig. 1, blower means 14 for producing the air currents and directing the same into hollow base 16 for ultimate movement into the bag 12 and thence outwardly therethrough and through the garment being finished. In the particular machine 10 chosen for iilustrau'on, the steam emanates from a foraminous manifold or hollow body 18 carried by the base 16 thereabove within the bag 12.

In accordance with the principles of the instant invention there is provided yieldable means for taking up the slack in the bag 12-at particular areas pursuant to the desires of the manufacturer. Accordingly, there is provided take-up structure that is preferably in the nature of drawstring means and the same is shown in Fig. '2 schematically and broad-1y in the. form of a lariat wherein drawstring 20 is threaded through an eye 22 at one end there of to present a loop 24. The take-up loop 24 may circumscribethe bag .12, but in practice is secured to the bag 12 therewithin through the medium of a'hem (not shown). Thus, in Fig. 1, it is seen that there is provided a take-up loop 24 at two areas 26 and 28 on the bag 12 and that each is provided with all of the structure shown in Fig. 2, but only one assembly will hereafter be described.

Drawstring 20 is preferably secured at that end thereof opposite to eye 22, to a rigid part of the machine 10 such as framework designated broadly in both Figs. 1 and 2 by the numeral 30. Drawstring 20 may be trained over a pulley or the like 32 intermediate the ends thereof and a flexible cord, cable or the like 34 forming a part, 7 of the control and adapted to be pulled by the operator,

is attached to the pulley 32.

Bag 12- is normally carried by the base 16 for rotation about a vertical axis through the medium of rotatable apparatus 36 and tubular means, broadly designated by the numeral 38, is secured to the apparatus 36 for rotation therewith and extends upwardly and outwardly from the apparatus 36 where control knob 40 is readily accessible to the operator.

The tubular structure 38 is partially housed within an outer tubular casing 42 and includes a lowermost tube 44 having a head 46 at the upper end thereof threaded within a larger, uppermost tube 48 also forming a part of the structure 38. Tube .48 extends through upper end 50 of housing 42 and is held in place by opposed lock nuts 52 threaded thereon.

In addition to the flexible cable 34, the manual control means for imparting a pull upon the drawstring 20, includes an elongated rod 54 reciprocable and rotatable within the structure 38 and having its lowermost and innermost end coupled with the cable 34 through the medium of a swivel joint 56. A flexible sheath 58 for the cable 34 extends into the lowermost end of the tube 44 and is secured rigidly thereto.

A spring 60 coiled about the rod 54 within the tube 48 is itnerposed between head 46 and an adjustable set collar 62 secured to the rod 54 within tube 48 adjacent the upper end .of the latter.

An externally threaded head 64 at the upper end of tube 48, receives an internally tapped cap 66 and is provided with ,a frusto-conical bore 68 that receives similarly shaped wedge means having two sections 70 and 72 which embrace the rod 54. As noted in Figs. 3 and 4, the rod-5,4 is hexagonal transversely thereof and cap 66 has a similarly shaped opening--74 thatslidably receives the rod 54 but does not permit rotation of the rod 54 relative to the cap 66.

'Fig. 4 illustrates also that the wedge means 70-72 has 3 of tubular structure 38 and along the longitudinal axis of rod 54 which is coaxial with the structure 38.

Knob 40 is secured to the uppermost and outermost end of the rod 54 to permit'manual reciprocation and rotation of the latter.

In operation, the diameter of loop 24 is increased by the action of the air or steam directed into bag 12 to inflate the latter. Conversely, the diameter of loop 24 may be decreased by exerting an outward pull on the knob 40. However, spring 60 yieldably holds the loop 24 at substantially its smallest diameter when the machine is at rest with bag 12 deflated. Accordingly, at a standstill condition, rod 54 is unlocked, i.e.', the cap 66 and wedge means 7072 are loose, permitting free reciprocable movement of the rod 54.

When the machine 10 is to be placed in use, the garment to be finished is draped over the bag 12 in the usual manner. Thereupon, through use of blower 14, air is directed into the bag 12 to inflate the latter. While the spring 60 is sufficiently strong to normally hold the loop 24 in its smallest diameter as aforementioned, it is not sufliciently strong to prevent distention of the bag 12 at area 26 or 28 as the case may be, against the action of the air being directed into the bag 12 during the initial sizing operation. Thus, as the bag is distended, the size of loop 24 will be increased exerting a pull upon the drawstring and, therefore, upon the cable 34. This pulls the rod 54 inwardly against the action of spring 60 compressing the latter.

The particular nature of the garment draped over the bag 12 will determine the extent of distention of the bag 12 particularly at the zones 26 and 28 and, therefore, as soon as the garment has prevented further expansion of the bag 12 and, therefore, increase in the size of loop 24, the operator grasps knob 40 and rotates the same to in turn rotate the cap 66. This forces the wedges 70 and 72 inwardly within bore 68 to clamp the wedges 70 and 72 tightly against the rod 54 and prevent further reciprocation thereof. It is, of course, seen that rotation of rod 54 relative to cable 34, is made possible by virtue of the swivel connection 56.

With the assembly thus locked, the operator may proceed with the garment finishing operations which include as aforementioned, direction of steam and hot air into and through the bag 12 and, therefore, through the garment as aforementioned.

Upon complete release of all pressure, the bag 12 will deflate permitting removal of the garment therefrom, whereupon the operator again rotates the knob 40 in the opposite direction to release the locking means 66, 70 and 72 and permit spring 60 to again impart a pull upon the cable 34 and the drawstring 20 to reduce the diameter of loop 24 forming a part of the take-up means. It is, therefore, seen that through use of spring 60 there is provided yieldable means for taking up the slack in the bag 12 and that during the garment finishing operation, the releasable means 66, 70 and 72 prevents distention of the bag 12 against the action of spring 60 under influence of the hot air and steam being directed into the bag 12 during the garment finishing operation.

Having thus described the invention What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a finishing machine, an inflatable bag provided with structure supporting the same, there being a drawstring intermediate the ends of the bag adapted to take up the fullness thereof and hold the same against radial distention at the drawstring; and control means coupled with the drawstring and normally holding the same drawn up, said control means being resilient, rendering the same yieldable to fluid pressure in the bag and permitting extension of the drawstring during inflation of the bag whereby the diameter of the latter increases at the drawstring as said pressure increases.

2. In a finishing machine, an inflatable bag provided with structure supporting the same, there being a drawstring intermediate the ends of the bag adapted to take up the fullness thereof and hold the same against radial distention at the drawstring; control means coupled with the drawstring and normally holding the same drawn up, said control means being resilient, rendering the same yieldable to fluid pressure in the bag and permitting extension of the drawstring during inflation of the bag whereby the diameter of the latter increases at the drawstring as said pressure increases; and means for holding the drawstring against further extension after the bag has distended to a selected diameter at the drawstring.

3. In a finishing machine, an inflatable bag provided with structure supporting the same, there being a drawstring intermediate the ends of the bag adapted to take up the fullness thereof and hold the same against radial distention at the drawstring; a manually movable member operably connected with the drawstring for drawing up and letting out the latter; and control means engaging the member and normally holding the drawstring drawn up, said control means being resilient, rendering the same yieldable to fluid pressure in the bag and permitting extension of the drawstring during inflation of the bag whereby the diameter of t e latter increases at the drawstring as said pressure increases.

4. The invention of claim 3, said member comprising a reciprocable rod and said control means comprising a string acting on the member to bias the same in a direction tending to draw up the drawstring.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein is provided tubular structure reciprocably supporting the rod and housing the spring with the latter coiled about the rod.

6. In a finishing machine, an inflatable bag provided with structure supporting the same, there being a drawstring intermediate the ends of the bag adapted to take up the fullness thereof and hold the same against radial distention at the drawstring: a manually movable member operably connected with the drawstring for drawing up and letting out the latter: control means engaging the member and normallv holding the drawstring drawn up, said control means being resilient, rendering the same yieldable to fluid pressure in the bag and permitting extension of the drawstring during inflation of the bag whereby the diameter of the latter increases at the drawstring as said pressure increases; and means for locking the member against movement whereby to hold the drawstring against further extension after the bag has distended to a selected diameter at the drawstring.

7. The invention of claim 6, said member comprising a reciprocable rod and said control means comprising a spring acting on the member to bias the same in a direction tending to draw up the drawstring.

8. The invention of claim 7, said rod being rotatable, said locking means including wedge structure adapted to be clamped tightly against the rod and means connected with the rod for clamping the wedge structure upon rotation of the rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent Jackson Sept. 3, 1957 

